If you have been unhappy with the search function on Realtor.ca, or just prefer to use the latest, greatest tools, we've got some great news for you.  We have added a new function to our website that will allow you to search all Victoria area MLS listings directly from PreferredHomes.ca without using realtor.ca at all.  Our site lets you search by neighbourhood or by any map area or shape that you specify.  

It's easy, free of course, and you don't need to sign up or register for anything.  Just click on "All MLS Listings" under the Listings tab.

Would you rather search from your mobile device?  You can do that too!  Just start at our main website, and click on the link to download the software to your mobile phone.  You'll find it just as easy to use and, even better, your phone will show you the details on listings as you drive by them!

Enjoy, and please share this with your friends!

(h)(s) 

Watching the stats for the last several weeks, clear trends are apparent:

* The volume of sales is low and is picking up.

* The number of homes on the market has passed the lowest point of the year and is climbing.

* Selling prices remain flat.

When I talk to fellow Realtors, buyers, and sellers, everybody seems to be interpreting things differently.  To put it very plainly, there is always a human tendency to view things that way that we want to view them.  People that are negative about the market, interpret the statistics that way.  Realtors are hoping for a stronger year for their clients and tend to be very buoyant.  Sellers often feel that there home was built with heavy duty nails and is the best on the market.  At The Preferred Homes Team, we try to step aside from our own personal wants and views and look for the opportunities in every market, at every time of the year.

I can see both opportunities and risks for both buyers and sellers.  Most of all, I see this as an excellent time of the year to be a buyer.  There is lots of choice out there, prices are definitely down, and there are enough motivated sellers to let you find a great price.  The press continues to spread fear which keeps some buyers out of the market, keeping sales volumes low, making it even better for the knowledgeable buyers who can see things the way that they really are.  As well, first time buyers have an added incentive to buy a newly built home before March 31, 2013 so that they can take advantage of the $10,000 tax refund.  Most of these first time buyers also qualify to skip the property transfer tax, saving several thousand more.  

Those serious on selling their home should also consider whether they should list their home today, or wait until later in the spring.  The answer here varies for different types of properties.  If I had a condo to sell, I would likely wait and see how the market develops.  Condo prices are pretty soft right now and we do hope that they strengthen this spring.  Those with waterfront homes and similar properties that benefit from better weather may also benefit from waiting.  

Other sellers should give serious consideration to getting their home on the market as soon as possible as inventory levels are considerably lower than they will be a few months from now.  Pricing is not likely to shoot up this spring so I wouldn't recommend waiting for that possibility.  Most important of all, we are seeing very high traffic in several of our listings, higher traffic even than we would expect during the spring rush.  All in all, we hear from buyers that they want to buy, and are having trouble finding properly priced properties.  So, there is your ticket!  Price your home correctly, get it on the market now, and you should have a good chance of finding a buyer.

On a final closing note, all of us here at the Preferred Homes Team: Karl Leong, Mark Roozendaal, and Tori Feldman want to pass our thanks to our clients for helping us have our best year ever!  In fact, our little team was involved in more transactions in 2012 than any other team at RE/MAX Camosun.  Our thanks also to our assistant Sydney who accurately processed over 130 properties.  We all look forward to supporting our clients' real estate needs again in 2013.

Here are the stats from the last 30 days:

Over the last 30 days, 127 single family houses were sold, up by 17 houses from last week.  The median price is up $5,500 to $495,000. The average house was on the market for 80 days.

In the same time period, 72 condos were sold, up by 14 condos from last week.  The median price is up $1,675 to $234,675. The average condo was on the market for 63 days.

(h)(s)